Beyond the City

"Doctor Proudie, gentlemen," said Mr. Metaxa.

The doctor bowed, smiled, whipped off his hat, and produced his

stethoscope from its interior with the air of a conjurer upon the stage.

"Which of these gentlemen am I to examine?" he asked, blinking from one

to the other of them. "Ah, it is you! Only your waistcoat! You need

not undo your collar. Thank you! A full breath! Thank you! Ninety-nine!

Thank you! Now hold your breath for a moment. Oh, dear, dear, what is

this I hear?"

"What is it then?" asked the Admiral coolly.

"Tut! tut! This is a great pity. Have you had rheumatic fever?"

"Never."

"You have had some serious illness?"

"Never."

"Ah, you are an admiral. You have been abroad, tropics, malaria, ague--I

know."

"I have never had a day's illness."

"Not to your knowledge; but you have inhaled unhealthy air, and it has

left its effect. You have an organic murmur--slight but distinct."

"Is it dangerous?"

"It might at anytime become so. You should not take violent exercise."

"Oh, indeed. It would hurt me to run a half mile?"

"It would be very dangerous."

"And a mile?"

"Would be almost certainly fatal."

"Then there is nothing else the matter?"

"No. But if the heart is weak, then everything is weak, and the life is

not a sound one."

"You see, Admiral," remarked Mr. Metaxa, as the doctor secreted his

stethoscope once more in his hat, "my remarks were not entirely uncalled

for. I am sorry that the doctor's opinion is not more favorable, but

this is a matter of business, and certain obvious precautions must be

taken."

"Of course. Then the matter is at an end."

"Well, we might even now do business. I am most anxious to be of use

to you. How long do you think, doctor, that this gentleman will in all

probability live?"

"Well, well, it's rather a delicate question to answer," said Dr.

Proudie, with a show of embarrassment.

"Not a bit, sir. Out with it! I have faced death too often to flinch

from it now, though I saw it as near me as you are."

"Well, well, we must go by averages of course. Shall we say two years? I

should think that you have a full two years before you."

"In two years your pension would bring you in L1,600. Now I will do my

very best for you, Admiral! I will advance you L2,000, and you can make

over to me your pension for your life. It is pure speculation on my

part. If you die to-morrow I lose my money. If the doctor's prophecy

is correct I shall still be out of pocket. If you live a little longer,

then I may see my money again. It is the very best I can do for you."